Wanganui and Districts Dahlia Society

This is a friendly club with over 50 members from Wanganui and outlying areas such as Marton, Ohakune, Palmerston North, Feilding, Otaki, Paraparaumu, Taihape, Waverley, Hawera, New Plymouth, and Taradale. We all have one thing in common, we all love DAHLIAS.

Meetings

are usually held on the second Sunday of each month during the main showing and growing season,
(October to April) and bi-monthly or when necessary during the off season. They take the form of topical
discussions, videos, and demonstrations, as well as the more formal business regarding the running and organising of shows,
displays and other various events An annual Mid-Winter Dinner is held in June or July each year, hosted alternately by Wanganui and the Central Districts Clubs. After a lovely meal, drinks and friendly conversation, pre arranged exchanges of tubers take place in the car park.

Newsletters

Members receive a regular newsletter through the mail,and this keeps them up-to-date
with coming events, as well as topical information throughout the season.

Library

Garden trips

The club organizes an out-of-town trip or garden visits most years.
We travel by car or hire a bus, and visit gardens, nurseries and other places of interest.

Annual Shows

Our annual Dahlia Show is held over the 3rd weekend of February each year, and is staged
in the Wanganui Intermediate School Hall, corner of Dublin Street and Victoria Avenue, Wanganui.
Our club exchanges medals with 14 societies from America and Australia each year, and these create
a lot of friendly competition. We also have sections for the "Home Gardener"
which provide classes for floral baskets, mixed vases of cut flowers,
Roses, Dahlias etc. and there are classes for Pot Plants also. This encourages participation
for general gardeners, and new growers of Dahlias to exhibit at their own level until they feel confident to advance higher.

Table shows and displays are staged in shopping malls and at various other events prior to the main show season.
Email us for dates, further details or for a show schedule.

The North Island National Dahlia show is held the second weekend of February
and is hosted each year by a different society.
Several of our members exhibit at the North Island National each year,
and thoroughly enjoy a weekend away where they meet overseas growers and people from all over the North Island.

Wanganui & Districts Dahlia Society hosted the "Millennium" National. Exhibitors at the National must be members of the National Dahlia Society of New Zealand or of the club hosting the show. Go to the "Links" page for more information on the National Dahlia Society.

Wanganui Club Subscriptions: A single subcription is $10.00; a family or double is $15.00.
The A.G.M. was held on the 29th April 2007
at the home of Carol & Ken Bourke,

Club Executive for 2007

Patron: Mr.Lew Robinson
President Mr. Ken Bourke
Vice-President: Mrs. Cherylene Lovell
Secretary: Mrs. Carol Bourke
Treasurer: Mrs. Margaret Spittal
Show Committee:Maureen & Ted Warren, Barbara & Nicole Miller, George Death, Mrs.Rosalie Irwin, Vanessa & Mark Powell.

Tuber sales

Were held during September and October. We held one in Marton, Hawera, Palmerston North and Wanganui.
Prices were very reasonable, and this year we had an enormous amount of tubers donated from several large growers,
which resulted in an amazing selection for not only our own members, but the public.

Seedlings

More and more of our members are now branching out into growing
their own seedlings. Some of them bought the "Higgo" seed imported from South Africa
a few years ago. The beautiful range and diversity of colours
that evolve from this seed is fantastic.